USA Looks for Historic 1,000th Goal When it Battles Canada

NewsOct 9, 2003

USA vs. CANADA WILL SEE CONCACAF TEAMS CLASH YET AGAIN

The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2003 turned out to be a triumph for the European and CONCACAF regions as those two confederations placed two teams each in the last four. This will be the seventh meeting between the two CONCACAF powerhouses. The USA and Canada have met six times over the last three years, and over those meetings the USA is 3-1-2 (W-L-T) and 3-2-3 in the last eight meetings. Canada has long been the little sister to the USA in the CONCACAF region as the Americans have rolled up a 25-3-4 record against their northern neighbors since the first meeting in 1986. The USA has a 112-24 edge in goals scored as well. In fact, after winning the first ever meeting and losing the second, both in 1986, the USA reeled off 21 straight wins. But under Norwegian head coach Even Pellerud, who coached his home country to the Women’s World Cup title in 1995, and Canada to the semifinals in 2003, Canada has made great strides. With five WUSA players as regulars in the starting lineup, including 2003 WUSA Rookie of the Year Christine Latham, and Christine Sinclair of the University of Portland, the top striker in the college game, the Maple Leafs have proven they can play with anyone in the world. The last meeting between the two teams was not representative of Canada’s growth as the USA came away with a 6-1 win as Shannon MacMillan scored four goals. Canada played a very young team and was without almost all of its WUSA players. The Americans know Saturday’s match will present an intense challenge, especially with the fine play of FIFA Best 11 defender Charmaine Hooper and her partner in the central defense Sharolta Nonen in front of young sensation Taryn Swiatek in the goal.

HISTORIC 1,000th GOAL COULD COME AGAINST CANADA

The U.S. Women’s National Team has scored 997 goals in its 18 years of existence and heading into the 307th game in the program’s history, is just three away from 1000. Cindy Parlow scored the 900th goal against Norway on Sept. 8, 2002. If the USA does not score three times against Canada, the Americans will have two more chances to notch #1000, against Italy in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 22 or against Mexico on Nov. 2 against Mexico in Dallas, Tex.